And now for something completely different. While I've been writing and building my world I've also been thinking about the vehicles and creations of the people that reside within. Going into the Victorian and early modern era the need for mechanical monstrosities becomes necessary for all sides present. Tanks, planes, ships, and all manner of other mechanical marvels. So in an effort to further build on the Akrilan peoples I've decided I'm going to try and have concept vehicles made for them, rather than just copying vehicles from our own reality. The Akrilan's are a unique people, and though they might take inspiration from their human counterparts. I want to try and make their approach to things unique and, if possible, interesting.

Art done by the wonderful,

Past this point it gets alt-historicle and nerdy, so if you don't like fake tank history I am sorry.

"In 1934 the Royal Department of Arms and Ordinance sent out a request for a new universal tank concept. This came at the behest of the army high command as they were looking to standardize as much equipment as possible to streamline production. During the early 20s, many of the tank prototypes provided by automobile manufacturers in the country were considered too unreliable, or too costly to manufacture en masse for military use. Leading to the small tank force Akrilan possessed to be mostly equipped with foreign tanks that relied on costly domestic part production to maintain. With this new concept, the army hoped to standardize on one hull, and one turret per series, that would be easily produced and easily modifiable for use in several combat roles.

The prototypes were to fall into three categories. Heavy, medium, and light hull. Each one of these defined by a certain weight and armor thickness. When the first trials were held in 1935, there were eight L-series prototypes, twelve M-series prototypes, and four H-series tanks present. It took only six days of testing for each manufacturing team was sent away to await the results of the army commission put in charge of the tests. Only ten protoypes from the original testing would be requested for the next trials.

Behind closed doors the military tried to grapple with the extremely poor performance of the tanks at the test. Their extension to test ten of the vehicles again was less of an honest gesture and more of one to save face. What saved the program from total collapse was experience. With the beginning of the Spanish civil war in 1936, Akrilan's observers were able to more closely examine the tanks of their competitors. Particularly the German and Soviet tanks of the era. Details about these tanks would quickly find their way into the hands of not only military personel, but key engineers back home. When the 1937 tank trials rolled around in late November, the military commission was beyond impressed with the vehicles on display. Selecting two L-series tanks, two M-series tanks, and one H-series tank to be given the greenlight for further development and government funding.

The two M-series tanks chosen to continue forward were M9 and M2. M9 had the superior hull, featuring angled armor, better suspension, and excellent track tension device positioning. M2 had the better turret, with better gun mounting, full stabilization, and a radio mounted in the turret. All while also fitting the commander, gunner, and loader. Which was deemed much more comfortable for all involved than the cramped M9 four man turret that put a radio operator next to the commander. Once the two were married together, the tank would officially enter production in late 1939 under the name M9, with the nickname "Wolf" being later added by troops.

Before the tank could ever see combat, an issue was found with it's main gun, which would see the originally mounted 70mm cannon replaced. In its place was fitted an LOZ 2A84 84mm rifled gun produced by Lugansk Orugeinyi Zavod in Raviyass. Leading to all M9 tanks produced at the time, to be given the U1 upgrade package. The only tank to survive the entire war of the few hundred M9 tanks originally produced was serial number 451. It would finish its service in Russia in the M9U4 configuration and was brought home at the end of WWII where it now rests in the Imperial Arms Museum."